WO2013076961A1 - Connector and method of making the same - Google Patents

Connector and method of making the same Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2013076961A1
WO2013076961A1 PCT/JP2012/007428 JP2012007428W WO2013076961A1 WO 2013076961 A1 WO2013076961 A1 WO 2013076961A1 JP 2012007428 W JP2012007428 W JP 2012007428W WO 2013076961 A1 WO2013076961 A1 WO 2013076961A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
latch
terminal fitting
connector
housing
terminal
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/JP2012/007428
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Toshifumi Suzuki
Original Assignee
Yazaki Corporation
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Yazaki Corporation filed Critical Yazaki Corporation
Priority to GB1409183.9A priority Critical patent/GB2510538B/en
Priority to CN201280067793.8A priority patent/CN104067455B/zh
Priority to KR1020147017263A priority patent/KR101532300B1/ko
Publication of WO2013076961A1 publication Critical patent/WO2013076961A1/en
Priority to US14/284,908 priority patent/US9124018B2/en
Priority to IN4630CHN2014 priority patent/IN2014CN04630A/en

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/40—Securing contact members in or to a base or case; Insulating of contact members
    • H01R13/42—Securing in a demountable manner
    • H01R13/422—Securing in resilient one-piece base or case, e.g. by friction; One-piece base or case formed with resilient locking means
    • H01R13/4223—Securing in resilient one-piece base or case, e.g. by friction; One-piece base or case formed with resilient locking means comprising integral flexible contact retaining fingers
    • H01R13/4226—Securing in resilient one-piece base or case, e.g. by friction; One-piece base or case formed with resilient locking means comprising integral flexible contact retaining fingers comprising two or more integral flexible retaining fingers acting on a single contact
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/40—Securing contact members in or to a base or case; Insulating of contact members
    • H01R13/42—Securing in a demountable manner
    • H01R13/422—Securing in resilient one-piece base or case, e.g. by friction; One-piece base or case formed with resilient locking means
    • H01R13/4223—Securing in resilient one-piece base or case, e.g. by friction; One-piece base or case formed with resilient locking means comprising integral flexible contact retaining fingers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/40—Securing contact members in or to a base or case; Insulating of contact members
    • H01R13/42—Securing in a demountable manner
    • H01R13/436—Securing a plurality of contact members by one locking piece or operation
    • H01R13/4361—Insertion of locking piece perpendicular to direction of contact insertion
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R43/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors
    • H01R43/20—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors for assembling or disassembling contact members with insulating base, case or sleeve
    • H01R43/24—Assembling by moulding on contact members
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00—Metal working
    • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
    • Y10T29/49002—Electrical device making
    • Y10T29/49117—Conductor or circuit manufacturing
    • Y10T29/49204—Contact or terminal manufacturing
    • Y10T29/49208—Contact or terminal manufacturing by assembling plural parts
    • Y10T29/4922—Contact or terminal manufacturing by assembling plural parts with molding of insulation

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a connector that composes a wire harness wired in an automobile, and a method of making the connector.
  • An automobile as a moving vehicle has various electric devices mounted therein, where a wire harness for transferring power or control signal is wired.
  • the wire harness is provided with a plurality of electric wires and connectors, with which the connectors are engaged with a connector of the electric devices or other wire harness so as to be connected with the electric devices or other wire harness.
  • a connector applied to such the connector generally includes a tubular connector housing and a terminal fitting accommodated in the connector housing and attached to a terminal of the electric wire, of which various types are employed corresponding to usage environment or object.
  • a terminal fitting of the connector is formed such as to bend conductive metal plate, which the terminal fitting is provided with an electric wire connection part connected with the electric wire of the wire harness and an electric wire contact connected with a terminal fitting of a mating connector.
  • the connector housing is provided with a straight hole-like terminal housing accommodating the terminal fitting therein, and a latch lance projecting into the terminal housing, and elastically formed to latch the terminal fitting in the terminal housing.
  • the connector housing 101 is formed of such insulating synthetic resin in generally a box shape, provided with a terminal housing 104 (terminal housing) accommodating a female terminal 103, and a spacer housing 105 (through hole) accommodating the spacer 102. Note that because a connector recited in PTL 2 includes nearly similar components too, the connector 100 of PTL 1 will herein be discussed.
  • the terminal fitting 104 is plurally arranged in parallel, each straightly extending, longitudinal both ends of which are open communicating with an end face of the connector housing 101.
  • the female terminal 103 is inserted in its longitudinal direction, and is formed a latch lance 106 facing inside the terminal housing 104 in its back side in an insertion direction.
  • the spacer housing 105 is depressed from one outer face of a plurality of outer faces of the connector housing 101 which intersects a longitudinal direction of the terminal housing 104, disposed across nearly middle in its longitudinal direction of each terminal housing 104.
  • the spacer 102 is made of insulating synthetic resin, provided with a plurality of insertion pins 107 inserted into the spacer housing 105, and a latch projection 108 disposed in each insertion pin 107.
  • the latch projection 108 is formed vertically two-tire at a side face of each of insertion pins 107, between the two-tire latch projections 108 is formed a space into which the female terminal 103 is allowed to insert.
  • a connector described in PTL 3, as shown in FIGS 11 and 12, is provided with a connector housing 111, a front holder 112, and a female terminal fitting 113 (hereinafter, referred to as female terminal).
  • the connector housing 111 is provided with a terminal housing 114 accommodating the female terminal 113, to an inside of which a latch lance is formed to face.
  • the latch lance 115 is formed slanted from a wall 116 of the terminal housing 114 toward backside of the female terminal 113 in its insertion direction, and between the latch lance 115 and the wall 116 a space 117 is formed.
  • the front holder 112 is attached from front side of the connector housing 111, provided with a front part 118 having a through hole passing male terminal fitting of other connector therethrough, and restriction projection 119 projecting from the front part 118 to be inserted into the terminal housing 114 of the connector housing 111.
  • the restriction projection 119 enters into the space 117 between the latch lance 115 and the wall 116 when the front holder 112 is attached to the connector housing 111 so as to restrict deformation of the latch lance 115.
  • such the conventional connector as shown in the aforementioned PTLs 1 to 3 is not allowed to increase latch force of the terminal fitting unless a spacer or a front holder is laid in actual latch state, by the connector housing being inserted thereinto, resulting in difficulty of prevention of escape of the terminal fitting in preliminary latch state.
  • a connector there are various connectors that are not provided with the spacer 102 or the front holder 112, but not limited to those provided therewith, or have different configurations or sizes.
  • an object of the present invention is to provide a connector and a method of making the connector preventing its escape by increasing latch force of a terminal fitting for various products without inducing of its upsizing or increasing of manufacturing cost.
  • a connector comprises: a terminal fitting including a first latched part and a second latched part; and a connector housing, including a terminal housing accommodating the terminal fitting, a wall dividing the terminal housing from external, composing one inner face of the terminal housing, and provided with a through hole passing therethrough, and a latch part configured to latch the terminal fitting accommodated in the terminal housing so as to avoid escape of the terminal fitting, the latch part including a latch arm having a tip extending from a base end disposed on the inner face of the wall toward a back side in an insertion direction of the terminal fitting, the tip of the latch arm being configured to be latched into the first latched part, and a latch projection projecting from the latch arm in a direction intersecting the insertion direction of the terminal fitting, exposing to external through the through hole, and configured to be latched into the second latched part.
  • the latch part includes the latch arm and the latch projection, the first latched part of the terminal fitting being latched by the tip of the latch arm, the second latched part of the terminal fitting being latched by the latch projection, i.e., latch of the terminal fitting at at least two points increases latch force, leading to prevention of escape of the terminal fitting. Also, forming of the through hole letting the latch projection face external at the wall of the connector housing readily forms the latch projection that is formed to project toward the insertion direction of the terminal fitting.
  • the connector housing is generally made of insulating synthetic resin by injection-molding, the terminal housing is formed in the insertion direction of the terminal fitting (hereafter, referred to as a first direction sometimes), and thereby a mold operable to open in the first direction is employed.
  • a first direction sometimes
  • the inner face of the wall is provided with a guide groove therein, the guide groove extending from an inlet side to the back side in the insertion direction of the terminal fitting in the connector housing, and wherein the terminal fitting is provided with a projection piece configured to be inserted into the guide groove and guided in the insertion direction of the terminal fitting, and wherein the second latched part is composed of a part of the projection piece.
  • the terminal fitting can be provided with a projection piece guided along the guide groove of the connector housing, thereby preventing the terminal fitting from rotating or slanting upon being inserted into the connector housing, which prevents the connector housing or the terminal fitting from breaking by irregular insertion, as well as improve workability of insertion.
  • configuration of the second latched part by projection piece for guiding the terminal fitting referred to as stabilizer
  • latch of a part of the projection piece by the latch projection eliminates a need to form the additional second latched part, decreasing manufacturing cost for the terminal fitting.
  • the projection piece of such the stabilizer is generally formed projecting in a direction intersecting the insertion direction of the terminal fitting, and by such the projecting part being latched by the latch projection, a first latch position where the first latched part is latched by the tip of the latch arm and a second position where the projection piece is latched by the latch projection can be separated apart from each other. Therefore, latch of the terminal fitting at two positions apart from each other, even if latch is released upon outer force exerting on one of the positions, allows latch of the other to be kept so as to likely keep a latch state of the terminal fitting.
  • the back side in the insertion direction of the terminal fitting in the terminal housing is provided with an abutting part therein, the abutting part abutting against, and holding a tip of the accommodated terminal fitting, and wherein the abutting part and the latch projection are overlapped to each other in the insertion direction of the terminal fitting.
  • the abutting part and the latch projection being stacked to each other in the insertion direction of the terminal fitting makes the abutting part abut against the tip of the terminal fitting without widening its width size of the terminal fitting in the direction intersecting the insertion direction of the terminal fitting, and makes the second latched part of the terminal fitting latched in the latch projection.
  • a method for making the connector comprises the steps of: providing a slide mold slidable in the direction intersecting the insertion direction of the terminal fitting upon molding the connector housing; passing the slide mold through a part where the through hole is destined to is formed; and molding the latch projection using the slide mold.
  • latch of the terminal housing at at least two points can increase latch force so as to prevent escape of the terminal fitting, avoiding necessarily providing a spacer or a front holder as is the case for the conventional connector, it is made possible to correspond to various types of connectors, and avoid upsize of the connector or complication of its configuration so as to restrict manufacturing cost. Also, since utilizing the through hole disposed in the wall of the connector housing, the latch projection is readily molded with the slide mold, manufacturing cost for the connector housing can be further decreased.
  • latch of the projection piece such as a stabilizer disposed in the terminal fitting by the latch projection makes it possible to keep its latch state of the terminal housing, and to securely prevent its escape of the terminal fitting. Also, with a terminal fitting originally having a stabilizer, it is not necessary to redesign to form the additional second latched part, directly utilizing the terminal fitting, it is thereby made possible to decrease manufacturing cost and improve latch force.
  • the latch projection can be molded without interference with the abutting part, it is made to prevent escape of the terminal fitting and well hold it in the predetermined position.
  • the connector housing it is made possible to avoid complication of facility or equipment for manufacturing the connector housing, as well as to make the connector improving its latch force corresponding to various types of products regardless of presence or absence of the spacer or the front holder.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a connector according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a connector housing of the connector.
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a cross-section of the connector housing taken at a position shown from A-A line in FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view illustrating an enlarged main part of the connector housing.
  • FIG. 4B is a plane view illustrating an enlarged main part of the connector housing.
  • FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view illustrating a procedure of latch of a terminal fitting in the connector.
  • FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a method of making the connector.
  • FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view illustrating an assembling procedure of the connector.
  • FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view illustrating an assembling procedure of the connector.
  • FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view illustrating the assembling procedure of the connector.
  • FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view illustrating the assembling procedure of the connector.
  • FIG. 8A is a perspective view illustrating an assembling procedure of the connector.
  • FIG. 8B is a perspective view illustrating the assembling procedure of the connector.
  • FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view illustrating one embodiment of a conventional connector.
  • FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional view illustrating the conventional connector.
  • FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view illustrating the conventional connector.
  • FIG.11 is an exploded perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the conventional connector.
  • FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the another conventional connector.
  • a connector 1 relevant to the present embodiment is the one composing a wire harness wired in such an automobile, which is engaged and connected with a mating connector provided with various electric devices or other wire harness mounted in such the automobile.
  • the wire harness is provided with a plurality of electric wires 2, and the connector 1.
  • the electric wire 2 is provided with a conductive core wire and an insulating cover covering the core wire, an end of which is crimped onto a terminal fitting 3 of the connector 1.
  • the connector 1 is provided with a terminal fitting 3 that is what is called a female terminal fitting, a connector housing 4 accommodating the terminal fitting 3, a spacer 5 to be inserted into the connector housing 4. That is, the connector 1 is a female connector provided with the terminal fitting 3 that is the female-type terminal fitting, which is engaged, and connected, with the mating male connector. Note that in the present embodiment the connector 1 illustrated and described is female connector, but that the connector of the present invention may be a male connector.
  • the terminal fitting 3 is formed by punching and bending, integrally provided with an electric wire connection part 31 and an electric contact part 32.
  • the electric wire connection part 31 is provided with a strip bottom plate and a swaging piece continuous with widthwise both ends of the bottom plate, onto which the bottom plate the electric wire 2 the core wire of which is exposed is placed, and swaging an end of the electric wire 2 makes the swaging piece electrically and mechanically connected with the electric wire 2.
  • the electric contact 32 is square-shaped, continuous with the bottom plate of the electric wire connection part 31.
  • an elastic piece 33 into which a male terminal fitting of the not-shown mating connector is inserted and held between an inside of the electric contact 32 and itself. As such holding of the male terminal fitting between the inside of the electric contact 32 and the elastic piece 33 makes the terminal fitting 3 and the male terminal fitting electrically and mechanically connected to each other.
  • the electric contact 32 is provided with a stabilizer 34 as a projection piece projecting from one side of its square tubular.
  • the stabilizer 34 is inserted into an after-mentioned guide groove 46 inside the connector housing 4, guided along the guide groove 46.
  • the stabilizer 34 is inserted into the guide groove 46 so that it is made possible to insert the terminal fitting 3 into the connector housing 4 in a predetermined direction, in addition, the stabilizer 34 is guided to the guide groove 46 so that it is made possible to prevent the terminal fitting 3 from collapsing or being slanted (that is, in an arrow X direction in such FIG. 1).
  • the connector housing 4 is made of insulating synthetic resin, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, provided with a box-like housing main body 40, a lock arm 41 for latching the mating connector.
  • the housing main body 40 is provided with a terminal housing 42 accommodating the terminal fitting 3, a spacer housing 43 accommodating the spacer 5.
  • the housing main body 40 is provided with a front face 40A facing the mating connector, a back face 40B opposite to the front face 40A where the terminal fitting 3 is inserted into, an upper face 40C where the spacer 5 is inserted into, a bottom face 40D opposite to the upper face 40C, a first side face 40E where the lock arm 41 is disposed, and a second face 40F opposite to the first side face 40E.
  • the upper face 40C or bottom face 40D is conveniently referred to as for simply describing, but not limited to up, down, right or left direction in usage condition of the connector 1.
  • the terminal housing 42 is provided plurally (two in the present embodiment), and arranged in parallel to each other.
  • the plurality of terminal housings 42 is straight tube-shaped extending in a front-rear direction of the connector housing 4, both ends of which in its longitudinal direction are open to and communicating with the front face 40A and the back face 40B of the housing main body 40.
  • the terminal housing 42 right side in FIG. 1 and upper side in FIG. 2 is surrounded by an upper wall 44A composing the upper face 40C of the housing main body 40, a bottom wall 44B composing the bottom face 40D, a first side wall 44C composing the first side face 40E, and a middle wall 44D disposed across the upper wall 44A and the bottom wall 44B.
  • the terminal housing 42 left side in FIG. 1 and lower side in FIG. 2 is surrounded by the upper wall 44A, the bottom wall 44B, a second side wall 44E composing the second side face 40F, and the middle wall 44D.
  • the terminal fitting 3 is inserted from the back face 40B of the housing main body 42 in its longitudinal direction, which the direction the terminal fitting 3 is inserted is shown by the arrow X in such FIG. 1, which is called an insertion direction X of the terminal fitting 3.
  • a direction intersecting the insertion direction X of the terminal fitting 3 and opposing the first side wall 44C and the second side wall 44E is shown in an arrow Y, which is called a first intersection direction Y
  • a direction intersecting the insertion direction X and opposing the upper wall 44A and the bottom wall 44B is shown in an arrow Z, which is called a second intersection direction Z.
  • the back face 40B of the housing main body 40 may be referred to as an inlet side of the insertion direction X, and the front face 40A side as a back side of the insertion direction X.
  • a latch lance 45 is disposed as a latch part.
  • the latch lance 45 is designed to restrict escape of the terminal fitting 3 from the terminal housing 42 by latching the terminal fitting 3.
  • the latch lance 45 is provided with a latch arm 45A extending in a cantilever-like fashion from the bottom wall 44B toward a back side of the insertion direction X, and a latch arm 45B projecting from the base end of the latch arm 45A.
  • the latch arm 45A whose base end is in continuous with inside the bottom wall 44B, extend slanted toward the back side of the insertion direction X and toward the upper wall 44A of the second intersection direction Z.
  • the latch arm 45A is formed in such a way that a free end of tip thereof becomes elastic toward the bottom wall 44B, and the terminal fitting 3 bridging across the bottom wall 44B while deforming is latched in the tip 45C of the latch arm 45A.
  • the terminal fitting 3 is provided with a step 35 as a first latched part disposed recessed from outer face at front side nearer than the stabilizer 34 of the electric contact 32, which is configured to have the tip 45C of latch arm 45A latched therein. Also, in the tip of the latch arm 45A a latch release projection 45D is disposed. To the latch release projection 45D a jig for pulling the terminal is hooked to deform the latch arm 45A, allowing the latch arm 45A and the step 35 to be unlatched from each other.
  • the latch projection 45B projects from a base end of the latch arm 45A toward the second side wall 44E side of the first intersection direction Y, and is formed slanted in such a way as to approach the second side wall 44E as approaching the back side of the insertion direction X.
  • the latch projection 45B is formed elastic toward the bottom wall 44B with the latch arm 45A elastically deformed, and elastic in a direction separating from the second side wall 44E (a direction submerging into the latch arm 45A), and the stabilizer 34 of the terminal fitting 3 that bridges across the latch projection 45B while elastically deforming the latch projection 45B is designed to be latched in the latch projection 45B.
  • a guide groove 46 extending in the insertion direction X and guiding the stabilizer 34.
  • the latch projection 45B is formed projecting from the guide groove 46.
  • a slit 47 is, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, formed as a through hole passing through the bottom wall 44B positioned corresponding to each of the terminal housings 42.
  • the slit 47 runs along the guide groove 46, formed along a side face of the latch arm 45A, so as to have the latch projection 45B face external through the slit 47.
  • nearly the entire bottom face of the latch projection 45B is, when viewing the housing main body 40 from the bottom face 44B side, made to be exposed to external through the slit 47. Lock of the stabilizer 34 by such the latch projection 45B can be released by elastically deforming the latch projection 45B using a jig inserted though the slit 47.
  • abutting part 48 In the back side in the insertion direction X inside the terminal housing 42 is formed a abutting part 48 abutting against the electric contact 32 of the inserted terminal fitting 3.
  • the abutting part 48 by holding the electric contact 32 between the upper wall 44A and itself, positions and holds the terminal fitting 3, arranged in pairs in the first intersection direction Y.
  • the abutting part 48 is stacked in the insertion direction X of the terminal fitting 3 relative to the latch projection 45B. Namely, the abutting part 48 and the latch projection 45B are, as shown in FIG. 4A, arranged at nearly the same position in the second insertion direction Z, and as shown in FIG. 4B project oppositely to each other along the first intersection direction Y over each of their tip, facing at least an each of their parts along the insertion direction X.
  • the spacer 5 is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, provided with a spacer main body 51 parallel to the upper wall 44A of the housing main body 40, a plurality of insertion pieces 52 extending from the spacer main body 51 to be inserted into the spacer housing 43.
  • a restriction piece 53 lying inside each of the terminal housings 42 and operable to abut against the terminal housing 3.
  • a latch piece 43A latching the spacer main body 51 at the actual latch position.
  • the two inserting pieces 52 of both sides have a projection 54 to be latched inside the first and second side walls 44C and 44E of the housing main body 40 at a provisional latch position a part of the spacer 5 is accommodated in the spacer housing 43.
  • the middle inserting piece 52 with the spacer 5 accommodated in the spacer housing 43 continue to the middle wall 44D, each composed of partition wall between the terminal housings 42.
  • the spacer 5 is, across such the provisional latch position and the actual latch position, movably attached to the connector housing 4. Also, by the restriction piece 53 positioned inside the terminal housing 42 abutting against a rear edge 36 (see FIGS. 5 and 7) of the electric contact 32 at the actual latch position, the spacer 5 can restrict the terminal fitting 3 from escaping.
  • the terminal fitting 3 is made by punching and bending of metal plate, the electric wire 2 is crimped to the electric wire connection part 31 with the crimp equipment.
  • the connector housing 4 and the spacer 5 are made of synthetic resin by injection molding.
  • a slide mold M capable of being inserted into inside the housing main body 40 from the bottom wall 44B of the housing main body 40 through a part destined to become the slit 47.
  • the slide mold M is movably held along the second intersection direction Z, as well as provided with a first mold face M1 molding a bottom wall of the latch projection 45B.
  • the slide mold M includes a second mold face M2 and a third mold face M3 that are inserted into between the latch projection 45B and the abutting part 48, so as to mold these sides.
  • a not-shown main mold is composed of at least a male and female pair capable of opening its mold in the insertion direction X, designed to make the slide mold M insert into any one of male and female molds.
  • the spacer housing 43 and the like are molded using adequate slide mold. Molten resin with the slide mold M inserted inside the main mold is filled within the mold, molding the latch projection 45B by the slide mold M, then the slide mold M is pulled out of the main mold, then the main mold is opened, so as to make the connector housing.
  • the spacer 5 is preliminarily inserted into the spacer housing 4 to reach the provisional latch position.
  • the terminal fitting 3 with the electric wire 2 is inserted into the terminal housing 42 from the back face 40B of the connector housing 4.
  • passing the stabilizer 34 of the terminal fitting 3 through the guide groove 46 makes the terminal fitting 3 to be prevented from falling of descending.
  • the insertion direction X makes a bottom face in a front side of the electric wire contact 32 abut onto the latch lance 45 so as to slidably abut onto the latch arm 45A, and to press the latch arm 45A toward the bottom face 44B to be elastically deformed.
  • the stabilizer 34 is slidably abutted onto the latch projection 45B to elastically deform the latch projection 45B.
  • the step 35 of the terminal fitting 3 bridges across the latch arm 45A, and the tip 45C of the latch arm 45A latches the stabilizer 34.
  • the terminal fitting 3 is thereby laid in the provisional latch state two points of the step 35 and the stabilizer 34 are latched in the latch lance 45 of the connector housing 4.
  • a front end of the electric wire contact 32 of the terminal fitting 3 held between inside of the upper wall 44A in the back of the terminal housing 42 and the abutting part 48, so as to be held not movably in the first and second intersection direction Y and Z.
  • the spacer 5 is pressed into the connector housing 4, and latch the spacer main body 51 in the latch piece 43A makes, as shown in FIG. 7C, the spacer 5 move in the actual latch position the spacer 5 is entirely accommodated in the spacer housing 43.
  • this actual latch position as aforementioned, two points of the step 35 and the stabilizer 34 are latched in the latch lance 45 as well as the rear end 36 of the electric wire contact 32 is latched in the restrain piece 53 of the spacer 5. This makes the terminal fitting 3 latched in three positions, and laid in the actual latch position its escape is stiffly restrained.
  • the connector is completed through the aforementioned procedure.
  • the terminal fitting 3 in the provisional latch position, is made to increase its latch force due to the two points of the step 35 and stabilizer 34 being latched in the latch lance 45 of the connector housing 4, and to prevent escape of the terminal fitting 3. Also, the terminal fitting 3 is held between inside of the upper wall 44A in the back of the terminal housing 42 and the abutting part 48, and the motion of the terminal fitting 3 inside the terminal housing 42 is restricted, preventing the latch lance 45 from unlatching, and securely preventing the terminal fitting 3 from escaping. Furthermore, the spacer 5 is moved at the actual latch position so as to abut onto the restriction piece 53, the terminal fitting 3 is thereby latched in the three positions so as to further increase the latch force in the actual latch position.
  • the slit 47 is also formed, through which the latch projection 45B is made to expose to external of the housing main body 40, making it possible to readily mold the latch projection 45B using the slide mold M that is inserted into the part where the slit 47 is destined to be formed.
  • the connector housing 4 of the present embodiment even if not provided with the conventional front holder in the front side of the housing main body 40, and not pulled out from its front side, can readily mold the latch projection 45B by using the slide mold M that can be inserted from the second intersection direction Z (or the first intersection direction) intersecting the insertion direction X of the terminal fitting 3.
  • the latch projection being readily molded using such the slide mold M, without complication of mold configuration of the injection molding equipment and the molding operation, makes manufacturing cost for the connector hosing 4 reduced.
  • the connector relevant to the present invention may, not limited to such the female connector, be a male connector that is provided with a male terminal fitting.
  • the connector 1 having the spacer 5 is discussed, the connector of the present invention may, not limited to what is laid in the actual latch position using the spacer or the front holder, be such a configuration in which the terminal fitting is solely latched by the latch part (latch lance 45). Even in such the configuration in which the latch part solely latches the terminal fitting, as aforementioned, latch of the terminal fitting at the two positions of the tip 45C of the latch arm 45A and the latch projection 45B of the latch part can obtain increased latch force.
  • the connector housing 4 is made to form two points of the terminal housing 42, and the connector 1 which accommodates the two terminal housings 3 is shown, the number and its arrangement of the terminal housing is specifically not limited to.
  • the spacer housing 43 is disposed open in the upper wall 44A that is an opposite wall, and the slit 47 that is a through hole disposed in the bottom wall 44B that is a wall, but their arrangement are not limited to, whereas the spacer housing 43 and the slit 47 may be formed in the same plane of the connector housing 4, or formed in an intersecting plane to each other.
  • the aforementioned embodiment includes the configuration where the tip 45C of the latch arm 45A latches the step 35 of the terminal fitting 3, and the latch projection 45B latches the stabilizer 34 of the terminal fitting 3, their part of the first latch part and the second latch part of the terminal fitting are not specifically limited to, but are disposed adequately in the terminal fitting.
  • the connector and the method for making the connector according to the present invention can be applied to the one composing a wire harness wired, for example, in an automobile, or the one connected to such a wire harness disposed in an electric devices.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
  • Manufacturing Of Electrical Connectors (AREA)
PCT/JP2012/007428 2011-11-24 2012-11-20 Connector and method of making the same WO2013076961A1 (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1409183.9A GB2510538B (en) 2011-11-24 2012-11-20 Connector and method of making the same
CN201280067793.8A CN104067455B (zh) 2011-11-24 2012-11-20 连接器及其制造方法
KR1020147017263A KR101532300B1 (ko) 2011-11-24 2012-11-20 커넥터 및 커넥터의 제조 방법
US14/284,908 US9124018B2 (en) 2011-11-24 2014-05-22 Connector and method of making the same
IN4630CHN2014 IN2014CN04630A (zh) 2011-11-24 2014-06-19

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2011256098A JP5789494B2 (ja) 2011-11-24 2011-11-24 コネクタ及びコネクタの製造方法
JP2011-256098 2011-11-24

Related Child Applications (1)

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US14/284,908 Continuation US9124018B2 (en) 2011-11-24 2014-05-22 Connector and method of making the same

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2013076961A1 true WO2013076961A1 (en) 2013-05-30

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PCT/JP2012/007428 WO2013076961A1 (en) 2011-11-24 2012-11-20 Connector and method of making the same

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US9124018B2 (zh)
JP (1) JP5789494B2 (zh)
KR (1) KR101532300B1 (zh)
CN (1) CN104067455B (zh)
GB (1) GB2510538B (zh)
IN (1) IN2014CN04630A (zh)
WO (1) WO2013076961A1 (zh)

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EP3282521A3 (en) * 2016-08-12 2018-05-16 TE Connectivity Germany GmbH Plug connector system

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JP5789494B2 (ja) * 2011-11-24 2015-10-07 矢崎総業株式会社 コネクタ及びコネクタの製造方法
JP6105263B2 (ja) * 2012-11-29 2017-03-29 矢崎総業株式会社 コネクタ
DE102015200722A1 (de) * 2015-01-19 2016-07-21 Te Connectivity Germany Gmbh Steckverbindereinsatz und Steckverbinder für die Datenübertragung in Automobilen
JP5907300B1 (ja) * 2015-04-30 2016-04-26 第一精工株式会社 導電端子
US11152755B2 (en) * 2016-04-19 2021-10-19 Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Connector device manufacturing method
US20180058887A1 (en) * 2016-08-26 2018-03-01 Rosemount Inc. Tool-less replaceable gas sensor module
JP2018049682A (ja) * 2016-09-20 2018-03-29 住友電装株式会社 雌端子及びコネクタ
JP6760147B2 (ja) * 2017-03-10 2020-09-23 株式会社オートネットワーク技術研究所 シールド端子及びシールドコネクタ
KR102250820B1 (ko) * 2017-08-18 2021-05-11 현대모비스 주식회사 전동 컴프레서용 터미널장치
US11251560B2 (en) * 2019-03-11 2022-02-15 TE Connectivity Services Gmbh Terminal position assurance member with multiple latches
US11725966B2 (en) 2020-09-18 2023-08-15 Rosemount Inc. Multi-stage irreversible sensor coupling

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20140256196A1 (en) 2014-09-11
GB2510538B (en) 2017-07-12
IN2014CN04630A (zh) 2015-09-18
KR20140099288A (ko) 2014-08-11
CN104067455A (zh) 2014-09-24
CN104067455B (zh) 2016-06-08
US9124018B2 (en) 2015-09-01
GB201409183D0 (en) 2014-07-09
KR101532300B1 (ko) 2015-06-29
JP5789494B2 (ja) 2015-10-07
GB2510538A (en) 2014-08-06
JP2013110067A (ja) 2013-06-06

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